IRANCANSURV: A comprehensive analysis of childhood cancer survival in Iran.

Abstract

We aimed to assess the 5-year survival probability of childhood cancer in Iran, utilizing data from eight population-based cancer registries across the country. The study employed data from 1809 childhood cancer patients aged 0-14 years, diagnosed between 2014 and 2016. Patients underwent active and passive follow-up procedures, and cases with uncertain vital status were excluded. We used the relative survival method to estimate age-standardized net survival probability for childhood cancer in Iran. The 5-year net survival for leukemia was 67.85% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64.57, 70.90), while for central nervous system (CNS) cancers, it was 48.63% (95% CI = 43.21, 53.82). An analysis of regional disparities revealed a significant discrepancy of 14.56% in the 5-year survival of childhood leukemia, from 56.96 % in West Azerbaijan to 71.52% in Fars province. The geographical disparity in the 5-year survival of childhood CNS cancer became more pronounced, with a staggering 57.33% difference ranging from 73.50% in Khuzestan to 16.17% in Isfahan provinces. The study highlights low childhood cancer survival rates in Iran and calls for a robust surveillance system, public awareness campaigns, implementing national clinical practice guidelines, and financial support from government and NGOs to improve patient outcomes.